HARRISBURG — Today, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that the Pennsylvania Senate has confirmed Patrick Cicero, Esq., as Pennsylvania’s Consumer Advocate. Cicero has been serving as the acting Consumer Advocate since December 2021 following his nomination to the position by AG Shapiro. This is the first confirmed Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate since 2012.
“We appreciate the Senate, on a bipartisan basis, confirming Patrick Cicero as Pennsylvania’s Consumer Advocate at a critical time when energy prices are so volatile and households are being hit with rising costs. This makes sure someone is on the beat looking out for everyday Pennsylvanians,” said AG Shapiro. “Patrick hit the ground running as Pennsylvania’s Acting Consumer Advocate, raising awareness around programs like LIHEAP and working with our partners at AARP to make sure older Pennsylvanians know what resources are available to them, and will continue the Office’s important work of representing consumers, as well as educating and informing them about utility issues across our Commonwealth.”
Since beginning his role as Acting Consumer Advocate, Cicero successfully urged the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to extend the deadline for applications for the LIHEAP program until June 17 to help Pennsylvania’s struggling to pay their utility bills.
“The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate is often the strongest voice consumers have on utility matters,” said AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh. “On behalf of our 1.8 million members, we congratulate Patrick Cicero on his confirmation and look forward to working with him as the Commonwealth’s next Consumer Advocate to continue protecting consumers’ pocketbooks from unfair rate increases.”
The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate represents Pennsylvania’s consumers before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, federal regulatory agencies, and state and federal courts. Consumers can contact the Office of Consumer Advocate toll-free at 800-684-6560 or consumer@paoca.org, or visit their website at www.oca.pa.gov.
“I want to thank Attorney General Shapiro for nominating me and the Pennsylvania Senate for their vote confirming me as Pennsylvania’s Consumer Advocate. The work of my office impacts the core of the lives of all Pennsylvanians because access to electricity, natural gas to heat our homes, clean water and wastewater service, as well as telecommunication service is what makes our lives and homes livable, our businesses thrive, and our economy grow. I look forward to continuing to work to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to reliable and affordable energy and utility service in each of these areas and that the consumer interest is well represented before the Public Utility Commission,” said Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate Patrick Cicero.
Patrick Cicero has nearly two decades of experience in legal aid and representing low-income Pennsylvanians in utility matters. Most recently, he worked as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, overseeing the effort to deliver civil legal aid to low-income Pennsylvanians and victims of domestic violence. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project, providing advocacy, training, and representation on utility matters affecting Pennsylvanians.
Patrick Cicero received his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2002, and lives with his wife, Helena, their two children, and extended family in Mechanicsburg.
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